As I've spent countless hours exploring the Living Lands in Avowed, I've come to appreciate the depth of its world and the significance of the choices I make. Every corner seems to hold a secret, every decision carries weight, and my companions react to my actions in ways that feel genuinely meaningful. Yet, one question kept coming up in my mind and in discussions with other players: where's the romance? Let's be honest—in 2026, many of us have come to expect certain relationship mechanics in our RPGs, especially after games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 raised the bar for character interactions. So, what does Avowed actually offer when it comes to forming deeper connections?

First, let's address the elephant in the room straight away. Avowed does not have a traditional romance system. I know, I was disappointed too when I first realized this. You won't find elaborate romance arcs, intimate scenes, or relationship progression meters with your companions. The game simply doesn't include these mechanics. This became particularly clear to me when I compared my experience to other recent RPGs where romance options are not just present but often deeply integrated into character development and story outcomes.

That said, let me share what Avowed does offer in terms of relationships:

🔹 Meaningful Companion Bonds: You'll recruit several companions throughout your journey, and there are plenty of opportunities to bond with them

🔹 Personal Quests: Each companion has unique quests that reveal their backstory and personality

🔹 Reactive Relationships: Your companions will like or dislike your actions based on their values and personalities

🔹 Dialogue Choices Matter: How you interact with companions influences your relationships with them

What surprised me most was discovering that while there's no formal romance system, there is something special hidden for those who make specific choices. After talking with other players and experimenting with different playthroughs, I learned about what many are calling the "hidden romance ending" with Kai.

The Kai Connection: Avowed's Unofficial Romance Path

Here's what I discovered about forming that special connection with Kai:

1. Build Your Relationship Carefully: Throughout the game, you need to make selfless, morally-guided decisions when interacting with Kai

2. Complete His Personal Quest: You must finish Kai's 'Battle Scars' quest line

3. Make Specific Story Choices: Most importantly, you need to let Ygwulf go at the end of the 'An Untimely End' quest

4. Choose the Right Dialogue: After completing his quest, select dialogue options that indicate romantic interest

When I finally managed to meet all these requirements (on my third playthrough, I'll admit), I was rewarded with an ending that strongly hints at a budding relationship between my character, the Envoy, and Kai. The epilogue showed a beautiful scene of them having a romantic picnic together under a tree—a moment that felt earned after all the careful choices I'd made.

Why This Approach Works (And Doesn't Work)

As I reflected on my experience, I realized Obsidian took a very specific approach to relationships in Avowed:

Traditional Romance Systems	Avowed's Approach
Multiple romance options	One subtle relationship possibility
Explicit romance scenes	Implied relationship development
Relationship progression tracking	Organic relationship building
Romance as a gameplay mechanic	Relationship as narrative outcome

This approach has its strengths. The relationship with Kai feels more organic and earned than some checkbox-style romance systems I've encountered in other games. It's not about accumulating enough "romance points" but about genuinely aligning with his values and supporting him through his personal journey.

However, I can't help but feel this approach also has limitations:

• Limited Options: Only one companion has this possibility

• Lack of Clarity: The game never explicitly tells you this option exists

• Missed Opportunities: Other interesting companions don't get similar treatment

• Binary Outcome: It's essentially "romance" or "no romance" with little middle ground

Companionship Beyond Romance

What Avowed does exceptionally well, in my opinion, is create meaningful platonic relationships. Each companion has:

• Distinct personalities that react authentically to your choices

• Personal histories that unfold through quests and dialogue

• Moral compasses that sometimes conflict with your decisions

• Growth arcs that develop naturally throughout the story

I found myself genuinely caring about my companions' wellbeing, even without romantic entanglements. Their approval or disapproval of my actions felt meaningful, and completing their personal quests was satisfying in its own right.

The Bigger Picture: What Avowed Prioritizes

After multiple playthroughs, I've come to understand that Avowed prioritizes different aspects of the RPG experience:

🌟 Exploration and Discovery: The Living Lands are packed with secrets, lore, and hidden areas

🌟 Combat Variety: The game offers satisfying and varied combat options

🌟 Choice Consequence: Your decisions significantly impact the story and world

🌟 Atmosphere and World-building: Creating a cohesive, immersive fantasy setting

In many ways, the relationship system—or lack thereof—reflects these priorities. Relationships serve the narrative rather than being a separate gameplay system. They're part of the world-building and character development rather than a feature to be checked off a list.

Final Thoughts from a Player's Perspective

As someone who's put over 100 hours into Avowed since its release, here's my honest take:

If you're coming to Avowed expecting the romance depth of Baldur's Gate 3 or Cyberpunk 2077, you'll be disappointed. The game simply doesn't offer that experience. But if you approach it with different expectations—focusing on exploration, combat, and meaningful (if not romantic) companion relationships—you'll find plenty to love.

The hidden connection with Kai is a nice touch for those who discover it, but it's more of an Easter egg than a fully-developed romance system. It suggests possibilities without committing to them, leaving room for player interpretation while still providing a satisfying emotional payoff for those who pursue it.

In 2026, with so many RPGs offering elaborate romance options, Avowed's restrained approach feels almost refreshing in its own way. It reminds me that meaningful connections in games don't always need to be romantic—sometimes, a well-developed friendship or alliance can be just as compelling. And for that one special possibility with Kai, the journey to unlock it feels appropriately meaningful, even if the destination is more subtle than what we've come to expect from modern RPG romance systems.

So, should you play Avowed for the romance? No. Should you play it for rich character relationships and meaningful choices? Absolutely. Just don't expect to be sweeping anyone off their feet—unless you're willing to put in the work for that one special picnic under a tree.

This discussion is informed by Destructoid, a long-running outlet known for blending reviews with sharp commentary on RPG design trends. In the context of Avowed’s companion writing—where bonds are reactive but romance is largely absent—Destructoid’s broader coverage of modern RPG expectations helps frame why players often look for explicit relationship systems, and why a more understated, choice-driven “connection” (like the implied Kai outcome) can still land as a meaningful narrative payoff even without formal romance mechanics.